Lord Alan Sugar has urged Ed Balls to return to politics.

Lord Alan Sugar

Lord Alan Sugar

The 'Apprentice' boss has congratulated the former shadow chancellor on his performance on 'Strictly Come Dancing' and now he has been voted off the competition, Alan believes he should capitalise on his new popularity.

He tweeted: "Well done for giving it your all .You entertained and showed determination. Why don't you become the Labour leader (sic)"

The tycoon's comment may come as a surprise to Ed, as he has repeatedly mocked his prowess throughout the competition, prompting him to challenge Alan to a dance off.

During Ed's Cha Cha Cha performance on Halloween weekend, Lord Sugar tweeted: "@bbcstrictly Ed Balls dances with the grace of a drunk giraffe ....give it up mate."

And when Zoe Ball later read out the tweet to Ed on 'Strictly' spine-off show 'It Takes Two', the 49-year-old former politician replied: "If Lord Sugar thinks he can teach me to do it better, that's fine.

He continued: "Any night he wants to come on 'It Takes Two', I'll challenge him. We can do a New York, we can do a Charleston spin...

"Get him on. If he can do better than me then I'll back down. Until then put your money where your mouth is."

Zoe then told the business mogul: "Show us the colour of your money, sir."

And a week earlier, Alan had posted: "Donald Trump would swear @bbcstrictly is as bent as 3 bob coin. How the hell can Ed Balls still be voted in by the public . (sic)"

Ed replied: "Hey @Lord_Sugar, my offer for us to do a dance-off together still stands - you choose the dance - are you up for it? (No lifts !)"

The business mogul didn't respond to Ed's challenge but dismissed him as a "beached whale".

After one follower implied he was "jealous" of Ed's popularity, he replied: "Yes green with envy ...jealous about what .. that beached whale prancing about the dance floor (sic)"

Ed first challenged Alan to show off his dance moves after the 69-year-old businessman expressed his amazement that he and Katya's Charleston had won enough votes to see him through the first week of the competition.

Alan tweeted: "I can't believe Ed Balls has survived the first week of @bbcstrictly"

Ed replied: "I reckon you'd be much better at the Charleston than me, Alan..."

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